(RepublicanView.org) – The body of a missing Massachusetts college student has been found in a river near Dartmouth. Flordan “Flo” Bazile, a sophomore at UMass Dartmouth University, was last seen at around 2 a.m. on January 16 in his dorm at Pine Dale Hall on Dartmouth’s main campus. Police found his body a day later floating in the Acushnet River, around 7 miles from the dorm. He is believed to have committed suicide.
In a statement, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Chancellor Mark Fuller said, “Our thoughts and prayers are with Flo’s family, friends, teammates, and classmates during this very sad time.”
Bazile was a sprinter and held the school record for the 100-meter dash. He was also named the2024 Little East Conference Track Athlete and Track Rookie Athlete of the Week in the weeks before his death. The Florida native, who moved to Pennsylvania as a teenager, was a student in the Charlton College of Business program, one of America’s most prestigious business schools.
Suicide among college students is disproportionately high and is the third leading cause of death for people aged 15 to 24. A survey found that more than 10% of college students have seriously considered suicide in the last year as of the time of posting, according to an article from Governors State University.
Experts say the causes are varied but include academic and financial pressures and being away from home for the first time. College students often experiment with drugs or drink alcohol heavily, which contributes to depressive thoughts and causes mood fluctuations. One national survey found that 16% of college students suffered from some form of depressive disorder before attending college, and around 90% of people who commit suicide suffer from similar conditions. These include substance abuse disorders and depressive disorders.
Statistics show that men are more likely to commit suicide than women, and men are more likely to succeed in a suicide attempt. Among college students, men are reportedly four to six times more likely to end their own lives than women.
If you or someone you know is struggling, you can get help through the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by texting or calling 988.
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